Washington ? President Barack Obama interviewed federal judge Diane Wood of Chicago on Tuesday for an opening on the Supreme Court, the fourth candidate known to have had face-to-face talks with the president, a person familiar with the conversation told The Associated Press.

Wood met with Obama in the Oval Office and also interviewed separately with Vice President Joe Biden. The source familiar with those sessions spoke on condition of anonymity to protect the privacy of Obama’s deliberations.

The president appears to be homing in on a decision. He has done sit-down interviews in recent days with at least three other finalists: Solicitor General Elena Kagan and federal appeals court judges Merrick Garland, who serves in the District of Columbia, and Sidney Thomas, who is based in Montana.

Tuesday also marked 25 days since Justice John Paul Stevens announced his plans to retire from the court this summer. By comparison, that is exactly the period of time Obama took last year in evaluating candidates before nominating Sonia Sotomayor to succeed Justice David Souter, who also retired.

Wood has been considered a front-runner all along. She interviewed with Obama for last year’s court opening and was said to have impressed the president. He ultimately chose Sotomayor, making her the first Hispanic to serve on the high court upon her confirmation by the Senate.

As for this time, Obama’s announcement of a nominee is expected any day.